Not everyone on DW bandwagon, apparently

[Mr. Neutral]

This from Sam Smith's NBA column in today's Chicago Tribune--------

In the loaded Western Conference, perhaps the most questionable (All-Star) choice was New Orleans' David West, who is good but not on the level of some players who didn't make the cut.

Since coaches cannot vote for their own players, they sometimes vote more deserving players lower (say, fifth) and a less-deserving player higher. Thus, when the votes are counted and weighted, their guy might get in.

The NBA will eliminate votes if it's for someone completely undeserving, so perhaps some coaches focused on West as deserving but unlikely to get enough votes. If too many coaches follow the same tactic, a guy like West garners enough votes to make his way—and bump someone else.

[bluegrass]

The best suggestion I've heard lately is to expand the rosters to 15 players. But West deserves it anyway.He's had a great year and the Hornets have the best record in the western conference.

[muskieman]

Guess he need to column and rationalized a scenario.

Prove him wrong Dave. BTW did Smith pick the Patriots too. I am surprised he didn't rationalized that "The Catch" should not have happened if the ref had only called that Manning was in the grasp.

[Mr. Neutral]

Smith's an NBA beat writer who's routinely on the Tony Kornheiser, Dan Patrick, etc., shows, so I don't think he did any Super Bowl predicting, at least not in print.

He's not always right (nobody is) but his column is possibly the single best source for NBA items.

[mhettel]

WOW! what a dick

nevermind the nearly 20/10 stats the great shooting percentage and being a perfect compliment to an MVP candidate (maybe a SMALL part of why CP3 is even a candidate in the first place) on the BEST team in the West.

I did always wonder how the Baseball HOF voters did that though. Think about a guy like Robin Yount. He's a lock as a first ballot HOF, but if EVERYONE votes for him, then he'll be unanimous, which has never been done. So someone has to NOT vote for him. But who's the one that does NOT vote for him. What if everyone decides that THEY are gonna be the one that doesn't vote for him, and he MISSES the vote minium. Even worse, what if he doesn't get enough votes to make the ballot again? These guys GOTTA discuss that.

[X-band '01]

I'd apply Hettel's thinking to Nolan Ryan - I think it was Tom Condon from one of the Philly papers who was the sole voter to not vote him in on the first ballot. Everyone else voted him in on his 1st eligible ballot.

[muskieman]

Smith's an NBA beat writer who's routinely on the Tony Kornheiser, Dan Patrick, etc., shows, so I don't think he did any Super Bowl predicting, at least not in print.

He's not always right (nobody is) but his column is possibly the single best source for NBA items.

Gary, I know who Smith is and while I enjoy him sometimes I find him rather annoying with his condescending tones...but that might just be me.

[Mr. Neutral]

mm, I don't disagree with your take on Smith, but, as I said, if you're looking for one NBA beat writer who seems to know a lot of what's going on in the league, he'd certainly be a good place to start.

And we can't expect every writer/commentator in every town to have the same opinion as we do of our guy. I'm sure there are Cincy beat writers in football & baseball who have questioned All-Star selections of guys from teams in other towns.

[muskieman]

I agree...btw sorry we didn't connect this weekend. We waited in the club till about 20 after 6 but had to go.

[Mr. Neutral]

We must have virtually passed each other going in and out of the Joseph Club. We ran into some guys in the hallway and talked to them longer than expected, hence our late arrival. I talked to Dan Emsicke and others before heading to our seats. Spent some time with Jay Skeldon at halftime as well.